The Bridle Trails Park Foundation and Bridle Trails State Park Ranger Mary Welborn kicked off a pilot environmental education program with Ben Franklin Elementary School. If the program is successful it is hoped it can be expanded to other schools.

Working with 6th grade teacher Suzanne Culpepper, Foundation Trustee Jim Erckmann and Ranger Mary have developed a curriculum module about forests that is focused on the park and a series of field trips. They are providing guided field trips, educational guides, videos, books about forests, classroom ideas, hand lenses for examining things up close, tree cookies (cross sections of trees), and guest speakers.

The month long module began in November and includes classroom presentations and a series of field trips. with specialists in Mycology (the study of fungi) and Entomology (the study of insects) and a Native American has agreed to teach a class about traditional use of forest plants and to play his Native American flute.

Early reports indicate that the students were very engaged, asked good questions, and were great at answering questions about what’s happening in the forest. The weather was great, a welcome blessing! Also, on one field trip, two bald eagles landed in the trees above the students, and then a pileated woodpecker started tapping on a tree later in the walk. What lucky kids! And consider this, they walked to the park since it is across the street from the school!!

Ranger Mary will talk to the class about the park and the value of parks to society. In the last week of the month-long module, the students will create a flyer or poster about efforts to protect the park.

If the pilot program is a success (and all indicators are that it has been very successful), the hope is to extend support to other schools. It is wonderful to see the Park being used to teach our children about nature and to see their interest and appreciation for this special place grow.

Are you interested in the natural history of the park? Take a look at the information we have so far Details>>

If you would be interested in having this experience for kids at your school, please contact Jim Erckmann at: erckmann1@comcast.net or (425) 827-6595.